Height adjustable encasement

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a bedding article which provides a variable mattress encasement. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the described mattress encasement provides an expansion portion that allows the mattress to expand from an initial height to an expanded height so as to incorporate a larger mattress volume.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the construction of a beddingarticle that is applicable to a wide variety of bedding types. Moreparticularly, the present invention is directed to a bedding articleusing an expandable section to allow for the customization of the bedcovering relative to the mattress size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional bedding encasements are customized for a particular mattressof a given size or shape. In most instances, bedding encasements, suchas those used to prevent bed bug infestations, are matched for a givenmattress make and model. Failure to use the proper encasement with thematched mattress results in an encasement that is either insufficient tocover the mattress or is too loose. For example, a mattress of a giventhickness must be matched to a bedding encasement having the necessaryvolume to encompass it. In circumstances when the encasement is moved tonew bedding or bedding material, care must be taken to ensure that theproper model is used.

Thus, what is needed in the art is a mattress encasement that provides avariable dimension so as to incorporate mattress types of various sizes.For example, what is needed in the art is a mattress encasement thatexpands to enclose a number of different mattress heights.

There have been some attempts in the art to provide for an expandablebedding apparatus to allow for its modification to fit differentmattress or bedding volumes. For example, Published U.S. PatentApplication 2012/0060281, herein incorporated by reference, describes abedding skirt for the use with a standard mattress that provides a morestable placement between the mattress and a box spring without needingto first remove the mattress. In this arrangement the article haselastic sewn into its side surfaces to provide drop height adjustment.The drop sides with the elastic are placed between the mattress and thebox spring, and expansion is performed by a pulling force. However, thiscited prior art fails to provide an adaptable encasement for use withmattresses of different heights.

Therefore, what is needed in the art is a bedding article designed toprovide a variable encasement for the inclusion of different mattresssizes and configurations. Furthermore, what is needed is a mattressencasement that is adaptable to more than one mattress type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bedding articlethat provides a variable mattress encasement. In one particularembodiment of the present invention, the mattress encasement provides astructure that allows the mattress to expand from an initial height toan expanded height so as to incorporate a larger mattress volume. Thisis achieved by having a continuous encircling gusset or excess materialwhich is drawn together by a fastening mechanism to achieve one heightand is opened to achieve a second greater height. In anotherconfiguration the present invention is configured with a series ofattachment devices that allow the encasement to expand to a number ofpredetermined heights relative to the mattress it is encasing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be morereadily apparent from the following detailed description and drawings ofan exemplary arrangement of the elements of the device described inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a particular embodiment of thebedding article of the present invention with the expansion devicedeactivated;

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the bedding device ofthe present invention of FIG. 1 with the expansion device activated;

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up, side view of an alternative embodiment ofthe bedding article of the present invention as provided in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By way of overview and introduction, the present invention is directedto a bedding article configurable to a variety of different mattress orfiller heights. In a specific arrangement of the present invention, thebedding article is equipped with a binder and gusseting designed toallow for the expansion of the height of the encasement so as to enclosea mattress of a specific bedding type having a larger than averageheight. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a variableheight encasement that allows for the re-use of the described encasementfor a different bedding type.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present beddingarticle can be applied to various forms such as comforters, sheets,pillows, cushions and the like, as well as the mattress so described.

As seen in FIG. 1, a bedding article 100 is provided. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the depicted article is an encasementconfigured to enclose a mattress or other bedding platform or structure.

In the present illustration, the bedding article 100 is formed of a topmaterial portion 102 and a bottom material portion 104. Each of the topportion and bottom portion have side portions (A, B respectively) in theform of gusseting or strips of excess materials. In the envisionedconfiguration, the two material portions are joined by a fasteningdevice 106 so that the excess material is within the article and theouter surface is relatively smooth. For example, in the illustratedembodiment the fastening device 106 is a zipper. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that other fastening devices, such as clasps,buttons, Velcro® and the like are applicable for the given function ofjoining the two portions of the bedding article.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that both the top andbottom or end portions are configured such that they are able to bejoined to enclose a structure. For example, as show in FIG. 1, the topand bottom portions include a top and bottom material covering as wellas side and foot coverings. As shown in FIG. 2, the excess materialstrip extends to the top and bottom (end) surfaces of the article sothat the gusset continuously encircles the article. Furthermore, in oneembodiment a head covering of the top sheet is permanently joined to abottom portion. In the alternative, the bottom portion and the topportion are separate pieces of material that are joined by the joiningdevices.

As seen in FIG. 1, the fastener 106 is engaged so as to fully enclosethe mattress. In this configuration, the mattress encasement is in acontracted configuration so as to easily encapsulate the mattress,without excess material on the outer surface. However, the excessmaterial or gusseting is enclosed on the inside of the article.

FIG. 2 shows the fastener 106 disengaged. In this configuration, thegusseting (not shown) is expanded such that a larger sized mattress canbe inserted within the encasement. In this configuration, the securingmechanism is not engaged if the size of the mattress is close to thefully expanded encasement. In one arrangement the gusseting is astructured fabric material. In an alternative arrangement, the gussetingis an elastic material designed to expand to incorporate the additionalheight or volume of the mattress.

As seen in FIG. 3, the gusseting is equipped with a plurality of zipperor fastener connections 308, 306, 312. In this arrangement, a number ofpre-determined sizes are provided with a number of zipper tracks. Forexample, the zipper track 308 is selected by a user for a given mattressheight. Alternatively, if a larger mattress is encountered, then asecondary zipper track 312 is engaged. In this way, there are a range ofzipper tracks conforming to a given set of mattress heights. The topportion 302 and the bottom 304 are connected by gusseting 310, such thatthere is no slack in the encasement. In a further embodiment, the zippertracks are equipped with a track cover or skirt (not shown) thatobscures the view of the unused zipper tracks from a user.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the top and bottom sheetmaterial are formed of any of the following or combination of thefollowing materials, wool, cotton, silk, batting, microfiber, syntheticand natural fibers, wadding and similar standard filling materials.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the recited materials caninclude variations and variants that have been specially modified orconstructed for the purposes of improved comfort or functionality. Forinstance, with the inclusion of, but not limited to, memory foam,visco-elastic materials, natural feathering and products as well, andsimilar textile materials.

It should be understood that various combinations, alternatives andmodifications of the present invention could be devised by those skilledin the art. The present invention is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A bedding article comprising; a top material sheet, a bottom materialsheet, and an expansion portion joining the top sheet and the bottomsheet so as to produce an enclosure that is sized to enclose a firstbedding structure, wherein the expansion portion comprises gussetedelastic panels and a plurality of closure devices arranged along the alength of the expansion portion between the top and bottom sheets andallows the bedding article to expand from an initial dimension to anexpanded dimension so as to enclose a second bedding structure.
 2. Thebedding article of claim 1, wherein the expansion portion incorporates aplurality of joining devices.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The bedding article ofclaim 2, wherein the plurality of joining devices are configured toallow the expansion portion to expand to one of a plurality ofpre-determined enclosure sizes.
 5. The bedding article of claim 4 wherethe expansion portion comprises: side panels running the length of thearticle with at least two strips of excess materials; end panels runningthe width of the article with at least two strips of excess materialsthat match and are contiguous with the strips of the side panels; andclosure devices that join together opposite edges of each of the atleast two strips of material to form smooth surfaces, wherein when allof the closure devices are closed the article has a minimum height, whenone of the closure devices is open the article has a second fixed heightgreater than the minimum height, and when two of the closure devices areopen the article has a third fixed height greater than the secondheight.
 6. The bedding article of claim 5 wherein at least one closuredevice is a zipper.
 7. The bedding article of claim 5 wherein at leastone closure device is a Velcro strip.